8 minute read
FAQs on Novel Coronavirus
severe respiratory illness, including fever, cough and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Some patients may not report fever, especially the very young, elderly, immunosuppressed, and if taking fever-lowering medications. Persons with a travel history to China in the past 14 days should seek medical attention immediately if they develop symptoms.
How long does it take for symptoms to appear?
Should I be tested for 2019nCoV infection?
If you have traveled from China in the past two weeks and have symptoms of respiratory illness, such as Fire Chief Martinez Jacobs has been instrumental in having 100% of HDOT’s airport firefighters at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport trained in infectious disease response. cough or shortness of breath, or if you have had close contact with someone who has had these symptoms within 14 days of travel to China, call ahead to a healthcare provider and mention your recent travel or close contact. The healthcare provider will work with DOH to determine if you need to be tested.
CDC believes the symptoms of 2019-nCoV may appear as early as 2 days after exposure and as long as 14 days after exposure.
Are there complications from 2019-nCoV?
Many patients with 2019-nCoV have developed pneumonia in both lungs. In some cases, death has occurred.
How is 2019-nCoV treated?
There are no specific antiviral treatments for 2019-nCoV. People who are infected should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms.
Where is the testing done?
Although your local healthcare provider will take your sample to submit to the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) State Laboratories Division, at this time DOH must send samples to CDC in Atlanta, Georgia to test for the new virus. The DOH state public health laboratory in Hawaii may have the ability to conduct the test within the next several weeks.
Is there a vaccine for 2019-nCoV?
There is currently no vaccine to protect against this virus. The way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed.
Does the flu shot provide any protection against 2019-nCoV?
The annual flu vaccination does not protect against 2019-nCoV but it is recommended for all persons 6 months of age or older in order to protect themselves from getting influenza (the flu).
Why should I get the flu shot then?
Because symptoms of 2019-nCoV are similar to symptoms of influenza (the flu), reducing the number of flu cases (by getting the flu shot) can help reduce the burden on healthcare providers and facilities by reducing the number of patients they see with flu-like symptoms that could potentially be 2019-nCoV.
I recently traveled to China and now I am feeling sick. What should I do?
If you have traveled to Wuhan or elsewhere in China in the past 14 days and now feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, you should do the following: (1) Seek medical care right away. Before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms; (2) Stay home. Except for seeking medical care, avoid contact with others; (3) Do not travel while sick; (4) Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. Throw the tissue in the trash; (5) Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If no soap and water are available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Will wearing a mask protect me from the coronavirus? Should I be worried about products imported from China?
There is no evidence that you can become infected with 2019-nCoV from a product imported from China. 2019-nCoV appears to be related to coronaviruses like SARS and MERS which do not survive long on surfaces. Instead, they are usually spread from person to person through respiratory droplets.
What about animal products from China?
CDC currently has no evidence that animals or animal products imported from China pose a risk for spreading 2019-nCoV. CDC will update the situation if more information becomes available.
Is my pet at risk of getting 2019-nCoV? Do animals in Hawaii have 2019-nCoV?
Although this coronavirus seems to have come from an animal source, it is now spreading from person to person. People traveling to China should avoid both live and dead animals in China, but there is no reason to believe animals or pets in Hawaii or elsewhere in the U.S might be spreading 2019-nCoV.
What are hospitals in Hawaii doing to get ready?
DOH is working with healthcare facilities to ensure hospitals and healthcare providers are up to date on infection control recommendations in the event they encounter a person potentially infected with 2019-nCoV.
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov/ncov or the DOH website at health.hawaii.gov/ docd/advisories/novel-coronavirus-2019. Or call 211 for information and referral services.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not currently recommend that people in the U.S. wear face masks in public to prevent infection. The best preventative measures include washing hands and covering coughs. Wearing a surgical mask does not prevent a person from inhaling smaller airborne particles; they are not considered respiratory protection by the CDC.
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